Saturday, January 30, 2016

We wanted to report on two opportunities for assistance we ran across recently:

Catholic Chartiies of Orange County has launched a service to help with DACA (Deffered Action for childhood Arrivals). Potential clients can be eligible if they were younger than 31 as of June 15, 2012 and came to the United States before their 16th Brithday and have been a resident of the United States since then. In order to begin the process with Catholic charities, there needs to be documented proof along with a $ 465 Fee paid to the US Department of Homeland Security. Special arrangements can be made for fees. Please note the locations:

Vita Income Tax Service is available to assist all with the filing of their Tax Returns at the Mission Basilica Parish Office through April 12, 2016. All who are interested should contact the Basicilla Outreach Ministry at (949) 234-130. The meetings will be held at the Basicila Parish Office at 31520 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano on the 2nd Floor, Room A.

We are pleased to report that all three escapees from the Orange County Jail here in Orange County are now in custody. One of them turned himself in yesterday and the other two were captured by San Francisco Police Department.

Friday, January 29, 2016

Welcome to the Final Friday of January 2016 here in #Outsiders. We hope all enjoy this selection from our artist of the week, Basia singing If not Now, Then When--it is a bit of an "oldie"--but a nice relaxing tune on the dawn of the W-End:

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The Comittment to make a difference was ever so evident today in our hometown of Laguna Niguel as our Mayor hosted her inaugural "Coffee with the Mayor" for the Community to join her to discuss the affairs of the City and to provide a roadmap of where the CIty was going. It was ever so in line with the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr as we are pleased to share this on that pivotal Day.

Dear State Commissions, Grantees, Partners, and MLKDay of Service Extraordinaires,

The 2016 Martin Luther King Day of Service is in the record books and what a DAY ON it was!

You collected and distributed food for those in need; you refurbished, weatherized, and built homes; you helped children improve their reading skills and taught them about ways to be healthier; you beautified and cleaned public spaces; and in thousands of other ways, you helped expand opportunities for individuals to be the best they can be.

AND, you told others about your service. Your social media messages helped #MLKDay trend on Twitter, generating more than more than 3 BILLION impressions during the holiday.

We hope you enjoy looking through this Storify where you will see service from across the country, and in Washington, DC, where the President and First Lady served as well as many members of his cabinet.

Thank you for leading your communities to serve in honor of Dr. King.

Regards,

Ted Miller
Chief of External Affairs
Corporation for National and Community Service

Monday, January 25, 2016

3 criminals escaped from the Orange County Jail. The Marshall Project featured this from the LA Times on it:Manhunt! Three inmates escaped from a California jail sometime Fridayand are now the subject of a massive manhunt. Officials haven’t yet explained why 15 hours elapsed from the time the men were last seen in confinement until they were discovered missing. The men, each charged with violent crimes, cut through steel bars, went through plumbing tunnels and then rappelled down a wall. LOS ANGELES TIMESThe Sheriff has noted that they're considered armed and dangerous and if there are any citings, to call 911 immediately.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

It has been a gloomy week in Our World. Our team decided to feature this we just received throughout all our properties to underscore that there is lot that we have going for us and we here @ #Outsiders are committed to reflecting upon the positive as well as the challenging. Please enjoy as we join the ever eloquent Geoff Colvin's call to action asking all to Cheer Up!!!

There are moments when bad news piles up like a snowdrift and it becomes impossible to dispute that the world is doomed. This is one of those moments.The earth is cooking: Last year was the hottest ever recorded, resulting in global weather weirdness such as devastating Mississippi River floods in December. Stock markets are plunging: The Dow has lost 1,700 points, almost 10%, in three weeks, reflecting deepening fears of multiple economic woes, such as… China is slowing:Its economy grew last year at its slowest pace in 25 years and, as my Fortunecolleague Scott Cendrowski points out, the official growth numbers are almost certainly exaggerated. Oil is falling: The rout continues, with prices now around $26, and while that may be an eventual economic benefit for many countries, it’s an immediate problem for the world economy. It’s one reason why… Global growth is disappointing: The World Bank recently cut its forecast of 2016 global growth, and most other forecasters are doing the same. And as if all that weren’t bad enough…Bernie Sanders is surging: He leads Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire and maybe in Iowa, propelled in part by fantasyland economic proposals that would stop any growth the U.S. economy has left in it.
Depressed yet? I detail this catalog of misery because part of a leader’s job is to offer hope, which seems almost impossible at the moment. Yet it can be done. We just need to lift our gaze from today’s news and look at the slightly bigger picture. Among the things you may notice, chosen at random and in no particular order:
-The developed world—the U.S., the European Union, and Japan—stopped using more energy just before the last recession. Their economies have grown since then (if not terribly fast), but they haven’t used more energy. This is unprecedented in world history.
-The world’s people are better off than they used to be. In the developed countries we’re focused on stagnant wages, missing the larger reality that billions of people have risen from incredibly miserable poverty in the past 20 years. There’s a long way to go, but this is astounding progress.
-People are living longer. Yes, the trend brings problems. But on the whole I bet you’d agree that life is good and more of it is better.
-We live in the most peaceful world there has ever been. I realize that sounds crazy, but it’s a fact that Harvard’s Steven Pinker has documented in his brilliant book The Better Angels of Our Nature, which Bill Gates has called “the most important book of the decade.”
-Pretty soon we won’t have to drive. Maybe you can remember when it was fun, but now it’s just dangerous drudgery. Accidents are declining in the U.S. and will fall dramatically as autonomous vehicles take over. And by the way, the U.S. has now gone over five years without even one person dying in a passenger airline accident.
-There are no statistics on this, but the world is certainly more full of creativity, energy, and promise than ever, with more people who are better educated receiving more opportunities to use their abilities.
-And if you insist on something more immediate to cheer you up, consider that on Sunday afternoon we will get to see two of football’s all-time greatest quarterbacks,Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, face one another, almost certainly for the last time, in a high-stakes game.
Even at moments like this, the good news is out there if we look for it. And I would even say it outweighs the bad. Cheer up!

Our team was witness yet again this week to the generosity of spirit of the Community at St. Timothy's Catholic Parish during the Service at the Food Pantry. We salute all such selfless souls and dedicate this thought to them and remember them all this week as we dedicate this View of the Week to them:

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Our Community is one of the luckiest communities in the World!! This was evident as we were witness to the generosity of spirit and action as the Aliso Niguel High School solo and ensemble concert which was held at the Soka University Performing Arts Center this past Friday and as we see organizations such as the Orange County Debate League continue to be at the forefront of developing the next generation of leaders.

We here @ #Outsiders are proud supporters of The Orange County Debate League. We recently received a call to action from the Founder & President Of the Debate League, Ben Hughes and hope that all who are interested to step up and support this worthy cause--Please visit their website at http://www.orangecountydebateleague.com/

Hello Coaches and OCDL Community,

I am writing to seek volunteer help for the OCDL.As you know, the OCDL is staffed by 100% volunteer labor. Judges, administrators, and special project workers are all with us by the goodness of their hearts. It is because of our volunteers that we are able to run the league and keep membership costs so low. As the OCDL has grown (we've quadrupled in size since our first event in 2009), it has become increasingly difficult to find volunteers for our administration, often seeking out families and friends of the league to help meet such a strong demand. In addition to judging, there are many others ways to volunteer in the OCDL, and it is in this regard that I am sending you this email.

Immediate assistance is required for the following roles:

Judge trainers

Break room food service

Data entry clerk

Tournament administrators

Would you please forward my email to your debate families. Should you or anyone you know wish to volunteer, please let me know ASAP.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can keep the Orange County Debate League running strong for many years to come.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

President Obama is gearing up to deliver his final State of the Union Tonight. Our team felt that this was appropriate because this speech is about us all and the vision that the President Espouses for his final year in office. It was hopeful that the House Speaker and the Senate Majority Leader were open to hear his ideas. Excerpts reflect a hopeful speech as we feature this here--and the White House is reflecting upon the sense of service right now.Despite all the disagreements, this is America at its' best--as we're amazed as to the power of outreach at the disposal of every American--one of the reasons behind the birth and on-going development of Outsiders!!!Enjoy the Show!!!!

Sunday, January 10, 2016

It has been a challenging time at times--but some interesting tidbits also to share which I hope the community enjoys:

Use the Scout Oath and Law to Write New Year’s ResolutionsA new year is always exciting because it feels like a fresh start—a chance to form new habits, accomplish the things we’ve been meaning to, and better ourselves. Too many goals or too vague, however, and we give up before we’ve even begun. As I worked on my resolutions for 2016, I wanted to focus on the things that will be most beneficial for my character and habits. What better way to do that than by focusing on living the Scout Oath and Law?...Read More

Millions Saved by Scout Training!“Scouting volunteer David Scott, publisher of Running Toward Danger, did the math and came up with the staggering number of how many people are alive today because of Scouting heroism.An estimated 3 to 5 million people—the equivalent of a city the size of Houston and Chicago—are alive today in the U.S. because they, or one of their parents and grandparents, had their life saved by a Boy Scout,” Scott says. “No volunteer lifesaving program … has had such an impact on a country.”...Read more

This is a bit interesting to note especially as we are also on the prowl on the California State Budget Before us: 2016 California Solar Incentives explainedSent to you on the rainest day of the year, the latest article at OCR is a guide what you need to know about going solar in California in 2016.

Could this be the year you (or a friend, or a friend of a friend) goes solar? Make sure you understand the incentive structure before you buy!~ Adam Plesniak, Managing Director OCrenewables.orgWe have also been on the Prowl on Developments in the Orange County District Attorney Office:

A Failure of Leadership’ in DA’s Office, Panel Finds
In a scathing report, independent legal authorities evaluating the jailhouse informants scandal found District Attorney Tony Rackauckas' office has a "win at all costs" mentality and is in need of a substantial reorganization.

Friday, January 8, 2016

As the year has begun in earnest here in #Outsiders, our team settled on a bit of an unconventional choice for the first Friday Musical Interlude of #2016: The Indian Maestro AR Rahman. As noted in the tribute by the Hindustan Times, he's got "... two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Grammy Awards, four National Film Awards, a Golden Globe, 15 Filmfare Awards and 13 Filmfare Awards South to his credit.It was his Birthday this week and we hope all enjoy this (as we hope all enjoy the selections we're releasing throughout our properties):

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Rains are continuing yet again in our hometown of Laguna Niguel. We just received flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service for the next number of hours. As we welcome El Nino, the need to be vigilant is ever so critical as we present the latest forecast here:7-Day Forecast for Latitude 33.54°N and Longitude 117.7°W (Elev. 394 ft)Here are excerpts of the detailed weather:

Detailed Forecast

This Afternoon

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. High near 57. South wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Tonight

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Low around 48. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Thursday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday

A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the morning.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Saturday

A 50 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Saturday Night

A chance of rain before 10pm, then a chance of showers after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

As we are on the "virtual beat", we are very pleased to report that El Nino has arrived and rain is pouring big time in here in Laguna Niguel. It is simply beautiful beyond words--as we eagerly await some good news on the drought mitigation that has apparently begun with the rise in Snow Packs in the Sierra Nevadas (Some 5 Feet so far as we went to press here!!)

This is a developing story as we look forward to sharing more good news...

Our team, though, was gratified as we got some nice news earlier today. We here @ #Outsdiers are fervent supporters and fans of Fish For Life. Fish for Life's Founder, Jim Holden, sent out an advisory that Fish For Life was going to be featured on Fox Sports West:

We were gratified that this was the winner of the Telly Award. Despite all we have had to contend with, it is such stories that gives us hope as we look forward to featuring on it throughout the year. It was also of note that the City of Laguna Niguel released its' quarterly newsletter that featured cautionary guidance on El Nino.It is going to be a profound year--and we remain ever so hopeful--Onward to 2016 with all its' possibilities.